Trump Pledges Ranchers Right to Process Food as 300,000 Tons of Beef Imports Spark Backlash
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Aug 28
Trump Pledges Ranchers Right to Process Food as 300,000 Tons of Beef Imports Spark Backlash
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 28
Summary
Trump said he is authorizing legal documents to let farmers and ranchers process their own food, casting the move as a way to break the grip of four major meat processors.
The pledge came after fierce criticism of his decision to allow up to 300,000 metric tons of foreign beef imports without higher tariffs, a step Republicans warned would undercut US cattle producers.
Brooke Rollins said the Agriculture Department will announce red-tape waivers next week, including easier processing rules and broader authority for ranchers to sell meat across state lines.
Congress and existing USDA rules could limit how far Trump can go on his own; Rep. Thomas Massie said the idea is welcome but should be enacted through law rather than executive action.
The fight lands as US cattle herds sit at a 75-year low, sharpening pressure on the administration to lower prices without weakening domestic ranchers.